Tag: Interviews
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If you haven't noticed, I'm a little in love with the stories that Lauren Layne creates. They always make me laugh, smile, cry and fall hopelessly in love. Frisk Me is no exception! So continue on to see what her latest release is about, check out my interview with the author, my 5 Star Review, and enter to win a $50.00 Amazon eGift Card with Signed Copies of FRISK ME, ONLY WITH YOU and MADE FOR YOU (Print US/Ebook INTL). YAY! Enjoy! ♥

Synopsis:

Officer Luc Moretti had no idea that his dive into the East River would have him drowning in a media frenzy. No matter how many times he tells reporters he was just doing his job, they're determined to make him into NYC's newest hero. Coming from a long line of NYPD's finest, Luc knows that being a cop has nothing to do with headlines and viral videos, and he's more than ready to get back to life away from the cameras-until he meets the gorgeous but jaded journalist assigned to film a TV special on him . . .

Ava Sims may be the only woman in NYC who isn't in love with Officer Moretti. That's why she's going after the real story-to find out about the man behind the badge. Ava's determined to keep things strictly professional, but the more time she spends around Luc, even she has to admit there's something about a man in uniform . . . and she can't wait to get him out of his.

Review:

I fell madly in love with this story! Frisk Me was a dynamic blend of laughter, sarcasm, sexiness and characters that found their way into my heart. But in all honestly, I was nervous to start this book. I struggled with the idea that a police story could be fun and sexy. BUT the first page alone proved me SO wrong because I was already smiling. Never again will I second guess or question the storyline or type of characters in a Lauren Layne book! Because the stories and characters she creates are always amazing! They make me laugh, smile, cry and fall hopelessly in love with them. Her stories are the kind that stick with you for a long time to come and that you want all of your friends to read! You must meet Luc and Ava!

Luc Moretti, sigh. He is from an Italian family whose blood runs in the force. His three brothers are also cops and his father just retired as a police commissioner in the NYPD. He is courageous but not a big fan of being pegged as a hero in the public eye. A little girl fell off of a bridge and without a second thought, Luc jumped in, swam her to shore and did mouth to mouth to bring her back to life. The problem was it was captured on someone’s phone and everyone knows about his heroic act. While he wants his life back to normal since he was just doing his job (love his modesty), enter Ava Sims. She’s a correspondent from CBC and wants to run a three-hour national special on him and the NYPD. And Luc has no option but to oblige.

I loved Luc! He has such a sweet heart. The thoughtful gestures he would do for Ava melted me into a smiling puddle of goo. And on top of that he was also humble, charismatic, wounded, funny, sexy and such a good guy! But you know what the icing on the cake was? He had a way of twisting his words or a situation into something sexier than it should have been. It lit up my face every single time he did it! So yeah, Luc is definitely getting added to my list of book boyfriends. I never once thought I’d have a cop on there! But now I do lol!

Like many of her other books, we also get to see Ava’s side of the story. Ava is definitely a multi-faceted person, and while I loved her personal side, sometimes I didn’t always see eye to eye with her business side. You see, there is the calculated, driven women that she portrays to the majority of the world, but when she kicks off her high heels and changes into her flip-flops then the real Ava is in full effect. She is unsure, funny, a smart ass and very perceptive. She was extremely easy to like and connect with. But of course my favorites parts of her was when she was interacting with Luc. Because the sarcasm between the two of them created the perfect amount of sexual tension and made me laugh so hard at their antics. They were characters that I understood inside out and I couldn’t get enough of them!

Another thing I couldn’t get enough of was Luc’s family! They interfered in the best of ways and oh my gosh they were hilarious, loving and looked out for one another. Their weekly get togethers always made me laugh and feel all warm and cozy in my heart. It was wonderful to see such a strong family unit that felt real in a book! But you want to know who my favorite family member was…well besides Luc? Nona, his Grandma. She is a hoot, and then some! Just try reading her scenes without laughing hysterically, I dare you!

So yeah, I loved this book! I laughed and cried hysterically, and I am so excited that I get to read more about these characters! Because the next book in this series is about Luc’s brother, Anthony. He’s grumpy hmmm or maybe more guarded then Luc, but he is intriguing and has the Moretti charm so I can’t wait to see what’s in store for him! Until then, I have to go read another book written by this author. Lauren Layne’s writing and characters are that addicting!

Interview:

What is something we would be surprised to learn about Luc and Ava?

That they’re not each other’s type!! Luc is laidback and charming, and prefers women who are equally low-key and friendly. Ava is all sharp-edges and cynicism, and is accustomed to dating guys who are equally edgy. The fact that they want the other person in spite of themselves is what makes the story so fun 🙂 . He can’t figure out why he wants this prickly ambitious nightmare, and she can’t figure out why she’s so drawn to a blue-collar, quick-with-a-smile cop.

If you had to cast Luc and Ava, would you prefer them to be known or unknown actors? Anyone in mind?

I’ve had the HARDEST time finding a celebrity look alike for Luc. I know that he has the likable steadiness of Nick from the TV show Grimm, and he has the searing good looks of Josh Duhamel, and the sheer yumminess of Ryan Gosling’s upper body … but no one guy was quite right for him!

As for Ava, from the very beginning she has ALWAYS been Minka Kelly.

(I have to say that I sighed when I read the Josh Duhamel comment. I’ve had a serious crush on him since he first appeared on tv back in 1999!-Jen)

What was your favorite scene to write in Frisk Me?

Definitely any scene that involves Nonna, especially when she has her yoga mat out! 🙂

What inspired you to write about cops?

You know, in full disclosure, a series about NYC cops was on my publisher’s wish list. My agent mentioned it to me, thinking I might be a good fit since I’d lived in New York, and I was pretty much on my tippy-toes, hand raised in the air like, “Ooh, me me me me!”

What is your favorite quality to write in a character?

I’m a sucker for a witty character; I have so much respect for people who are always ready with a one-liner, and I just love when a character is born into my head with this sort of wittiness all ready to go.

The next book in the series is Steal Me which is going to be about Luc’s brother, Anthony. Can you tell us a little bit more about what his story will be about?

Excuse me for a moment while I happy sigh. Anthony’s story was a little different for me … there’s a sweetness to Anthony and Maggie’s love story that really caught me off guard. Basically, Anthony is a workaholic who has zero time for relationships. Maggie is the sweetheart waitress at the diner his family frequents. They set off sparks from the very beginning, but it’s not until Maggie becomes the key witness in a case he’s working on that they realize there’s so much more physical chemistry between them. There’s so much sexual tension in this story, I swear you will FEEL the want.

Giveaway:

About Lauren Layne:

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.
Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.
Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

Review:

“If you touch her again, come near her again, I will tear you apart with my own bare hands, Master or not.”

There are so many things I love about this series. So many things I hold back after finishing a book because, really, how many times can you repeat all the same things you love about a consistently excellent series? I always do a mini-review, letting people know the main reasons I loved the story, and I hardly put all I truly feel into the review. Well, 7 mini-reviews later and I think it’s time I finally let all these built up emotions out-this book was excellent and people deserve to hear about it.

Ethan sighed. “It has nothing to do with pretty.”
“Not according to your brain,” I agreed. “But once again-”
Ethan held up a hand. “No need to repeat the point.”
“When I’m four hundred, do I get to date a twenty-five-year old?”
Ethan narrowed his gaze. “If you date anyone other than me at any point in your hopefully long and fruitful life, there will be trouble for both of us.”

I keep saying that these stories continue to get better, and it’s true, mostly, but there is something refreshing about a more sinister plot. Like, it’s known that when you pick up a Chicagoland Vampires book that there will be a mystery to solve, Ethan and Merit will have to conquer a new threat to their relationship, and there will be lots of love and snark exchanged between them. It’s a fact. It’s an inevitability. And I always get so excited to pick up the next new story. But this time there was something new. Sure, there’s always something new-But not like this.

Never has there been something that made me feel so icky about what could happen to Merit-or Ethan, for that matter. But when the return of an old figure from Ethan’s dark past reemerges, things begin to get….foggy. Merit’s defenses are down, Ethan isn’t (and can’t be) quick to save Merit, and no one can understand why, or how, this person is getting past their wards on the house. How does one protect another person’s mind? Is there even a way? And what happens when Ethan isn’t there to break the trance, and the next time he’s too late? What then?

There was nothing equivocal in his gaze, in the steadiness of his green eyes. “He was my nightmare, Merit. You are my miracle. He will not touch you again. Yes?”

Ethan, as always, was beyond words. He is so loyal to Merit and would do anything to keep her safe. And when Merit has a close run-in with this dangerous and mysterious enemy, it guts him that she recoils from his touch. She becomes withdrawn and so unlike herself, leaving everyone scrambling to keep the wards in place…even when there isn’t a break-anywhere in sight. It makes him moody, protective, possessive, and more than a little bit nervous (Waaaaiiittt, yeah, my bad he’s always like that-but, hey, it was a little more intense this time). Ethan likes to be in control, to be the alpha, to know he’s keeping the love of his life (and his house) safe. So, when bad things begin to surround his house, he’s more than unsettled.

And Merit. I adore this girl. She’s snarky, she’s funny, and she always has the best comebacks-I could be best friends with her. And, to top it all off, she can take care of herself. It’s not often you find a female lead with all the bells and whistles. But in this story, Merit feels violated, like she can’t defend herself even in her own home, in her own apartments, and with the man she loves sleeping right beside her. It’s a new kind of challenge for her and she spends the book doing everything she can to defend herself with no way of knowing what will work and when he’ll strike next….and what he’ll do to destroy the forever relationship she and Ethan have worked so hard to build.

Which was why Ethan returned to the apartments to find Mallory and me lying on the bed, television on, pooched stomachs taking a much needed breather.
“Oh, this is quite a sight,” Ethan said with obvious amusement, then spied the empty box of Mallocakes. “A vampire and sorceress done in by chocolate snack cakes.”
“Mallocake ‘splosion,” Mallory said weakly. “Pew, pew, pew.”
“I think there’s one left.” I moved just enough to skim fingers against the box, tip it up. “Yep. One. You can have it.”
“Wait,” Mallory said, and put a hand on my arm while she deliberated, as if there was a chance she might be able to squeeze in one more. “No.” She waved me off. “I can’t. Go ahead.”
“This scenario isn’t really selling the Mallocake concept to me,” Ethan said.
“We’re having girl time.”
“Not the girl time I prefer to imagine, but so be it.”
“Perv,” Mallory said with a grin, rolling off the bed and trundling toward the door. “I’m going to roll myself downstairs.”
“Take care,” Ethan said. “And thank you for the ward.”
She burped indelicately.
“And that’s our powerful sorceress,” Ethan said, locking the door behind her.

I think the reason I liked this story so much was because of how it all progressed. There was a lot more action and it mixed really well with the banter and strategizing. I am so picky when it comes to this and I couldn’t have been happier with how it was all handled. There wasn’t a moment when I was bored or rushing to get past anything-every moment was important and every moment mattered. It was fast-paced and the love scenes were electric. Every minute was a rush as we tried to catch whoever was behind the sinister threats and when they were trying to defend the house. And, as always, the humor helped get us through every single moment.

I looked up at him. “Are you wooing me?”
“I’ve been wooing you since the moment our eyes locked on the first floor of this house.”
I gave him a flat look. “No, that’s when you accused me of being spoiled.”
“Details,” he said lightly, mouth drawn into a crooked grin.

So, I know that I gush a lot about these characters, but they are very dear to me and I am fully invested in whatever may happen to them. I want nothing more than for the prophecy to come about and for happy things to occur regularly for Ethan and Merit. Their love is tangible and it leaps off every page-every look, every touch, every embrace-they were made for each other. I cannot wait to see where the rest of the stories go, because this series has my heart. If you haven’t tried, you need to go and start these books now. You won’t regret it!

*************************************************************

Interview:

Very rarely do we get the opportunity as readers to get inside the mind of our favorite authors, but Chloe Neill has offered to answer a few questions for the blog tour! Take a peek at what she had to say:

1. Just as your books inspired other authors to write, what authors inspired you to write?

When I started writing, I’d been reading a lot of Rachel Caine, Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, and Stephanie Laurens, among others. I really loved reading stories in series, because you got to know the characters, the setting, and the little inside jokes and references that really made the book feel like a comfortable place to rest.2. Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Emotional upset?

Action scenes are definitely the hardest for me to write, so the last scene I usually write in the book is an action scene that I’ve put off. 🙂 It’s difficult for me to imagine a three-dimensional fight, and then translate that into words for the two-dimensional page. Banter is the easiest thing–I can write characters chatting all day long. But it doesn’t make for a very interesting scene.3. Which of your Chicagoland Vampire characters would you most like to spend extended amounts of time with?

Probably Merit. I think we’d get along very well. Or Damien, because I think he has a lot of interesting stories to tell. 🙂4. If you could cast Ethan and Merit in a Hollywood adaption of your books, who would you choose to play theircharacters?

David Beckham isn’t an actor, but he’ll always be Ethan for me. I don’t really have a specific girl in mind who epitomizes Merit, so I’m certainly open to suggestions!

Thanks for having me today!

I am so honored here today to be able to represent one of the most hilarious, sexy, and addictive series I’ve ever read. Not often do I, or we as a blog, stick with such long series. But since the beginning, Ethan and Merit have stolen my heart and and I am so happy I came across this wonderfully delicious series. If you have never read these stories, that’s a shame. But if you’re even a little bit curious, pick up the first book in the series, Some Girls Bite, and I swear you’ll be enthralled from page one. Thanks so much, Courtney Neill!

Like this:

We are SO excited to bring you the Launch Day Blitz for Chelsea Fine’s Best Kind of Broken. It is now available in Paperback! Below you will find an excerpt, interview and a giveaway for 5 signed copies!

This. Was. Incredible. Seriously. It had just the right amount of drama without being annoying and just the right amount of sadness without suffocating me. The ending gave me hope and left me with a feeling of peace and love, and tears in my eyes. The good kind of tears. It was beautiful.

Synopsis:

SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN

Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can’t. And the damage is done. She’s hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there’s a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more-until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he’s right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she’d long buried . . .

Levi can’t believe he’s living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple “sorry” won’t suffice-not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie’s better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she’s so close, Pixie’s heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear-he can’t live without her.

Interview:

What is something we would be surprised to learn about Pixie and Levi?

Even though they grew up together and were practically best friends, at the beginning of Best Kind Of Broken, Pixie and Levi haven’t spoken for nearly a year. A tragic event sent them spinning in different directions, each wracked with guilt. But now they’re forced to live under the same roof and share a bathroom for the entire summer, which means they’re probably going to have to talk to each other and things might get awkward. Or sexy. Or both.

If you had to cast Pixie and Levi, would you prefer them to be known or unknown actors? Anyone in mind?

I kind of picture Levi looking like Stephen Amell and Pixie looking like Amanda Seyfried. Here’s my dream cast for all the main characters of Best Kind Of Broken:

I saw that music can be inspirational to your writing. Are there any specific songs that resonated with you while creating Best Kind of Broken?

Music is my number one inspiration for writing! I always have a song blasting in the background when I’m working on a chapter. Always. J I had “Summertime Sadness” by Lana Del Rey on repeat while writing most of the middle chapters of Best Kind Of Broken, and “Lightning Strike” by Snow Patrol was my battle cry for the ending chapters. Here’s a complete list of my favorite tunes while writing BKOB:

The Lightning Strike by Snow Patrol

Young Blood by Birdy

Say Your Name by Plumb

Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey

Anna Sun by Walk The Moon

King and Lionheart by Of Monsters And Men

Endlessly by Green River Ordinance

Heart of Me by Green River Ordinance

New Shoes by Paolo Nutini

Teardrop by Massive Attack

What is your favorite quality to write in a character?

Oh man. What a great question! Hmm…I would have to say fearlessness—which is a different thing than bravery (in my opinion). Being fearless means doing something regardless of the risks. Bravery is doing something even though you know the risks. Fearlessness is born of a passionate pursuit, while bravery is born of a deliberate desire. I think fearlessness is very rare so I enjoy writing characters that are so passionate about their cause or their loved ones that they fight with reckless abandon.

I am so excited (and a little scared, since I’m a baby) to hear that you have a horror novel releasing this fall! Can you tell us a little bit more about the book?

You know, I never—ever—planned on writing anything remotely dark. But earlier this year, while listening to “Bones” by MSMR, I got this twisted idea in my head and I just had to start writing it. I can’t really give any details yet, but it has a gothic feel to it and most of the book takes place in the catacombs of an old church. It’s more creepy than it is scary, but it’s so much fun to write. Get ready… Mwah-ha-ha-ha!

Excerpt:

It’s late, and most of the inn guests are already asleep.

I wait until I hear the TV click on in Levi’s room before I start plugging everything I own into the wall.

We argued today. We avoided each other. And aside from the weird look we exchanged in the hallway this morning and our little spat in front of Zack, everything is back to normal.

Which means I owe Levi for the cold shower I had to take.

I turn everything on and the lights go out. I hear the TV die in the next room and crawl onto my bed with a smile.

I hear stomping, and then he opens my bedroom door. Just opens it. Like he has the right to just waltz into my room. I could be naked in here; he doesn’t know.

“You’re going out to the fuse box this time.” He steps inside, and now he’s standing just a few feet away, pointing his finger at me.

I’m on the bed, trying to look casual, like lying in the dark playing games on my phone is perfectly normal. The only light in the room is coming from the glow of my phone and the half-moon outside, so we both look blue and soft. And in the blue softness, I see he’s shirtless.

I see Levi without a shirt on almost every morning, but I’ve never seen him half-naked in the dark, and something about it makes my body feel electric.

“Not going to happen,” I say.

He steps closer. “Well, I sure as hell am not marching outside to turn the power back on.”

I shrug. “Fine with me. I don’t need electricity tonight. I can watch TV on my fully charged phone.” I wiggle said phone at him.

He sighs. “You don’t understand. I was looking up the contact information for an alarm company I found so I can call and schedule the installation tomorrow. I need the Internet, Pix.”

“Then use your phone.”

“My phone is dead.”

The boy never charges anything. He almost makes the whole fuse-blowing thing too easy.

“Well, that’s too bad. I guess you’re going to have to turn the electricity back on after all.” I pretend to be very interested in my game.

“Let me use your phone. Just for a minute.”

“No.”

“Come on. It’s for Ellen.” He implores me with a pouty face I’ve seen him use on his mom a dozen times.

I scoff. “Please.”

“Dammit, Pixie.” The pout is gone.

“Maybe tomorrow you’ll remember to charge your own phone. Or hey, better yet, maybe you’ll let me have a hot shower.” I make a big production of pressing random buttons on my phone.

He slumps his shoulders like he’s accepting defeat, then whips out his arm and tries to swipe the phone from my hands. Sneaky bastard.

I pull my phone back and kick at him with my foot, but he grabs my ankle—because I’m not exactly a ninja with my kicking skills—and then we both freeze.

Because now I’m leaning back on the bed with my legs spread apart, and he’s got one hand on my ankle and the other on the bed next to my hip where he was reaching for my phone, and his body is in between my legs, which are completely bare except for the tiny gym shorts I have on, and my right arm is raised over my head with my cell phone still out of his reach, but my back is arched and my shirt has come up so my stomach is completely exposed and I’m hot all over.

Hot. Heat. Everywhere.

I mean, really. We look like we’re in the middle of having sex, but with clothes on. My body knows this. His body knows this. And our bodies are really, really happy about this.

He’s looking at me with nothing in his eyes except want. And I like it. No, I love it.

This must show on my face because his hand—still wrapped around my ankle—moves up my leg an inch, and he watches my reaction.

I try not to react because, hell, he can’t win. He can’t just be asshole Levi all day long and then climb into my bed at night and touch me wherever he pleases.

Ugh. Yes he can.

I part my lips and he slowly, slowly slides his warm hand up my calf and, holy hell, I could orgasm right here. I might, actually.

My calf.

My calf.

He’s touching my calf and I’m more turned on than I’ve ever been in my life.

His hand shifts again, and the only thought in my head is, Go higher, go higher.

Please, dear God, go higher.

About Chelsea Fine:

Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.

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